2l6 



NA TURE 



[June 28, 1906 



Paris. 

 Academy of Sciences, June ii. — M. H. Poincare in the 

 chair. — .Some points relating to the study of the specific 

 heats and the application to these of the law of correspond- 

 ing states : E. H. Amagat. It has been shown in a 

 previous note that the specific heat at constant volume, 

 following an isotherm, undergoes a discontinuity at each 

 intersection of this isotherm with the saturation curve. In 

 the present paper the question is discussed as to whether 

 this discontinuity persists in the neighbourhood of the 

 critical point. — The products of the reaction, at a high 

 temperature, of sodium isobutylate and propylate of 

 camphor: A. Haller and J. Ming-uin. Camphor, heated 

 at about 230° C. with sodium isobutylate, gives sodium 

 isobutyrate and isobutylcamphol, various derivatives^ of 

 which have been prepared. The general action of sodium 

 propylate on camphor at a high temperature is similar to 

 that of sodium isobutylate, but the yields are not so good. 

 — Some attempts made in the German Navy to utilise photo- 

 graphy in voyages of exploration : A. Laussedat. — The 

 orthography of the word caesium : M. de Forcrand. — 

 Vaccination against tuberculosis by the digestive tracts : 

 A. Calmette and C. Guerin. The authors summarise the 

 views put forward by them in previous papers as to the 

 exact mechanism of tuberculous infection, laying stress 

 upon the fact that the tubercle bacilli are probably absorbed 

 by the digestive tube, and find their way to the lungs 

 indirectly, and not directly as usually assumed. It has 

 been found that it is possible to vaccinate young calves 

 ty the simple intestinal absorption of tubercle bacilli 

 modified by heat, and that this method of, vaccination is 

 ■quite free from danger. — Remarks by M. Emilc Roux on 

 the preceding paper. The results of experiments carried 

 ■on by M. Roux since November, 1905, are in general 

 agreement with those described in the preceding paper ; it 

 is possible to give immunity to cattle against tuberculosis 

 by means of the digestive tracts. — The problem of the 

 elliptical cylinder : Mathias Lei-ch. — Specific inductive 

 power and conductivity. Electrical viscosity : Andr^ 

 Broea.— The aurora borealis : P. Villard. A complete 

 theory of the aurora is given, and, using this as a guide, 

 it is shown that the characteristic features of the aurora 

 can be reproduced by means of a large spherical bulb 

 placed between the conical poles of an electromagnet.— 

 The liquefaction of air by expansion with external work : 

 Cxeorges Claude. Details are given of the arrangements 

 for " compound " liquefaction, this constituting an advance 

 on the previous results. Whereas spontaneous liquefaction 

 under atmospheric pressure gave the author only 02 litre 

 of liquid air per horse-power hour, the second step, lique- 

 faction under pressure, gave o^66 litre per horse-power 

 hour, whilst the compound liquefaction raises the yield 

 to 0^85 litre per horse-power hour. — The magnetic proper- 

 ties of the compounds of boron and manganese ; Binet 

 du Jassonneix. Of the two manganese borides MnB and 

 MnB,,, the former alone possesses magnetic properties, and 

 the permeability of ingots of manganese boride obtained 

 from the electric furnace is proportional to the amount of 

 MnB present. — The iodomercurates of magnesium and 

 manganese : A. Duboin. These salts give rise to solutions 

 of densities approaching 30, and various crystalline double 

 iodides were separated and isolated. — The reduction of 

 antimony selenide ; P. Chretien. The determination of 

 the fusing points of mixtures of antimony and selenium 

 in various proportions indicated the existence of three new 

 compounds of selenium and antimony, SbSe, Sb.Sej, and 

 SbiSe,. — The attack of platinum by sulphuric acid: L. 

 Quennessen. In the case of the sulphuric acid of the 

 usual strength sold, it is the oxygen of the air which inter- 

 venes as the oxidising agent. In the absence of free 

 oxygen with acids of high concentration, the necessary 

 oxygen for the solution of the metal is furnished by the 

 sulphur trioxide in solution in the acid. — The chlorination 

 of wool : Leo Vignon and J. Mollard. — The estimation of 

 albuininoid and gelatin materials by means of acetone : 

 F. Bordas and M. Touplain. The authors have shown 

 that egg-albumin, casein, and fibrin are completely in- 

 soluble in pure acetone. Diastases and peptones are also 

 precipitated by acetone. In all cases the aqueous solu- 

 tions separated by centrifugal action from the precipitate 



NO. 19 1 3, VOL. 74] 



gave on analysis no trace of nitrogen, showing the separ- 

 ation to be complete. Details are given for the processes 

 recommended for the analysis of butter, cheese, and milk. 

 — Researches on the deveiopment of Botrylis cinerea, the 

 cause of grey rot in grapes : J. M. Guillon. — Note on the 

 bathypelagic Nemerteans collected by the Prince of Monaco : 

 L. Joubin. — Impregnation and fertilisation : E. Bataillon. 

 — The motility of the echinococcic scolex : J. Sabrazes, 

 L. Muratet, and P. Husnot. — The graphitic schists of 

 Morbihan : M. Pussenot. — The local winds in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the Canaries : H. Hergresell. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDA y, June 2E. 

 UvAL Society, at 4-10.— Sc.\-determination in Hydatina, with some 

 Remarks on Parlhenoienesis : R. C. Punnett.— On the Julianiacea, 

 a New Natural Order of Plants: W. B. Hemsley, F.R.S.— On Re- 

 generation of Nerves: Dr. F. W. Mott, F.R S., Prof, W. D. Halliburton, 

 F.R,S,, and A. Edmunds.— The Pharmacology of Ethyl Chloride; Dr. 

 E. H. Embley.— The Alcoholic Ferment of Yeast Juice, part ii.. The 

 Co-ferment of Yeast Juice : Dr. A. Harden and W. J. Young.— Total 

 Eclipse of the Sun, Aueust 30, 1Q05, Account of the Observations made 

 by the Solar Physics Observatory Eclipse Expedition and the Officers 

 and Men of H.MS. I'f«:is at Palma, Majorca: Sir Norman Lockyer, 

 K.C.B., F.R.S., and others.— Researches on Explosives, part iv. : Sir 

 Andrew Noble, Bart., K.C.B., F.R. S.— Tidal Regime of the River 

 atTected by the Recent Dredgingsat the Bar, in Liverpool Bay : 



J. N. Shoolbred 

 J. W. GifFord.— The Jonis; 

 Gases: O. W. Richardsoi 

 Plate in the Dark : Dr. 1 

 Spectrum of Ytterbium : I 

 Scale of Temperature and 

 Scale: Dr. J. A. Barker. - 

 by "a" Rays from Polo 

 Action of Cotton : Prof. O 



THURSDAY, }vi. 

 Chemical Society, at 3.30.— Saponarin, a Ne 

 Blue with Iodine : G. Barger.— The Constituti 

 Tutin.— Electrolytic Oxidation : H. D. Law.- 

 lodide and of Propyl Iodide on the Disodium 

 acetone : A. W. Bain. 



Refractive Indices of Water and Sea-\ 

 sation produced by Hot Platinum in Different 

 on —The Action of Plants on a Photographic 

 W. I. Russell, F.R. S.— On the Ultra-Violet 

 Sir William Crookes, F.R.S.— On the " Kew •' 

 id its Relation to the International Hydrogen 

 , — Note on the Production of Secondary Rays 

 onium : W. H. Logeman.— The Hygroscopic 

 ■ Masson, F.R.S., and E. S. Richards. 



Gl 



Coloured 

 of Umbellulone : F. 

 re Action of Ethjl 

 of Diacetyl- 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Organisation of Agriculture. By E. H. G. . . 193 



The Manufacture of Cyanides. By Dr. T. K. Rose 195 



A Year on the " Siboga " ig6 



Yorkshire Fungi 196 



Our Book Shelf: — 



Macfarlane : " The Principles and Practice of Iron 



and Steel Manufacture" 197 



Blythe : " On Models of Cubic Surfaces" 197 



Distant: "A Synonymic Catalogue of Homoptera" . 197 



McHardy : '• lona " 197 



Letters to the Editor:— 



Kew Publications. — Sir W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 



K.C.M.G., F.R.S 198 



A Remarkable Lightning Discharge. — SirEdw. Fry, 



P.C, F.R.S 198 



The Magnetic Inertia of a Charged Sphere in a Field 



of Electric Force.— G. F. C. Searle, F.R.S. . 199 

 The Date of Easter.— Dr. J. L. E. Dreyer ; Rev. 



C. S. Taylor 199 



Musical Thunder. — G. H. Marty n 200 



How do Inquiline Bees find the Nest of their Host? — 



Oswald ri. Latter 200 



The Disturbance of Greenwich Observations. 



{IllHSlraU'd.) 200 



The Sea-Serpent. By R. L 202 



The Royal Society Conversazione 203 



National Physical Laboratory. {l/lHslraicd.) .... 205 



Notes 206 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Astronomical Occurrences in July 210 



The Figure of the Sun 210 



Discovery of Algol Variables 210 



An Interesting Minor Planet 210 



Observations of Jupiter in 1903 and 1905-6 .... 210 



Photometric Observations of Saturn's Satellites . . . 210 



New Double Stars 211 



The International Congress of Anthropology and 



Prehistoric Archaeology 2IT 



I Summer Temperatures of the North Sea 212 



University and Educational Intelligence 212 



Societies and Academies 214 



Diary of Societies 216 



